Mental hospital / homes

[willow154]

Hi again,
Glad more information is coming through - wonderful, Kath!
I'm more confused than ever about my Hannah now - my relative thinks the census form says "invalid from birth". However, I thought they were told to use the criteria shown on the form - totally confused now! I even rang the NA  to see what they thought - he wasn't sure either, but said he thought it was "imbecile from birth".
I think I've found her death registration in 1916, so she should be on the 1911, but isn't! Her name does not appear at all. The gentleman said that if the information was sensitive it wouldn't be on the 1911 site, and would not appear before 2012 - I had hoped some information like the name or initials at least would be there. And, to add more confusion the adddress she was at, in 1901, isn't there either.
If either of you wish to give an opinion she is:
Hannah Robinson born 1841/2 Tipton, Staffordshire
Parents Sarah and George
Address on 1881 census: 1 Coneygree Road, Tipton.
I would be very grateful.
Confused and bewildered
Paulene
P.S. So glad the information was useful. Look forward to hearing that you've found her.
ADDED: Found her on the 1911 - I tried again just using year of birth and Staffordhire only. Poor Hannah was in the Dudley Union Workhouse, and, as all the sensitive information is blocked out I shall not be able to view it until 2012.
Unless the death certificate tells a story!

[kathb]

Hi, Wilbs, have a look at this site it has photo's and some very interesting information on Dudley Workhouse.
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Dudley/Dudley.shtml
Regards
Kathb

[Wilbs]

Thank you once again Paulene and Kath and I'm sorry to have taken so long to acknowledge your wonderful contributions.  I will get in touch with all the societies that you have mentioned and let you know the outcomes as soon as I hear something.

It may be a couple of weeks before I recommence my search.  You may have seen the terrible bushfires here in Victoria, Australia and as much as I enjoy the challenge of finding missing past family members, current family and friends take priority at a time like this.

Best wishes

Wilbs

[willow154]

Hi Wilbs.
No worries - you're quite right; that has to be your priority at the moment.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. I hope you find them all safe.
Take care,
Paulene

[kathb]

Hi, Wilbs, take care of yourself and your family.  We are all thinking of everyone in Victoria and pray that you remain safe.
I looked on the 1901 census and noted that there was a Betsey in the family - this is usually a shortened form of Elizabeth so there may also be an Alice, although at the moment I cannot find a birth for her on Cheshire bmd.  Have you looked at the GRO indexes?  The other places Alice may have been admitted to are Clatterbridge Hospital (Wirral Union Workhouse) or more likely if they were in Ellesmere Port to Manor Hospital, Moston Hospital or the Deva Hospital (Cheshire County Mental Hospital).  I have a book on the history of the Deva Hospital and will look at it for some details in the next week or so - bit busy at the moment.
Take Care
Regards
Kathb

[Wilbs]

Hi Kath

Yes, we have both a Betsy born 1897 and an Elizabeth born 1906.  In 1921 "Betty" married James Gilbert Jones and based on ages we concluded that "Betty" was Betsy.  Betty & James went on to run a bed & breakfast in Blackpool, so we rulled her out of the equation.

In the family we also have four more daughters - Mary (known as Polly 1895), Ida (1899) Sarah (1904) and Ada (1911-1949). 

Phoebe, their mother was born in 1873 so would have been 44 when Ada the youngest child was born.  At that age she would certainly have carried a higher risk of having a mentally handicapped child.

However, in 1934 Ada married Robert Sandland so I doubt that she was "Alice".  Sarah also married and was discounted.  Mary's nick name was Polly, so also crossed off the list, which left us with Ida (1899) and Elizabeth (1906)

My problem is that all the facilities you and Paulene have kindly identified all require the official name and date of birth, as well as proof that I'm related to this lady.  I think my only recourse is to put "Alice" on hold and move on with the rest of the family.

Oh, I how I hate nicknames - but that's probably another topic I need to start.

[cathayb]

just seen this post and though proberly not relevant I am looking for a john allman born in Cheshire.we think his mother was phoebe and his dad james but he leaves home on his mothers death sometime between 1845 and 1850 and arrives in Michigan America.just wondered in your searchings have you come across him??

[Wilbs]

Hi (perhaps very distant cousin) cathayb

I haven't come across that particular branch of the Allman family before, but that's not to say that John is not one of ours.  I think the Allmans took on the task of single-handily populating the whole of Cheshire, using as few Christian names as possible.

It looks like Phoebe Allman died aged 32 in 1848 in Altrincham, Trafford so John would have been very young when he went to the States.  A search of (free) www.cheshirebmd.org.uk gives 9 Allman children born in Trafford from 1837-1848.  There is one John, with birth certificate number ALT/3/81 who may be yours.  You can order this certificate from the site by clicking the reference number and following the link.  I've ordered several certificates from this site before without problems and it's a lot cheaper than going via the paying sites.

The certificate should give you Phoebe's maiden name as well as confirming his father and enable you to search for the rest of the family.

There's another James, Phoebe & John Alman family in Congleton listed on the familysearch site, but I can't find any record of Phoebe's death in your time span in that area so this family may be plan B if the Trafford one doesn't give results.

Good hunting!